Ruthless Arsenal threw down the gauntlet in the English Premier League (EPL) title race with a 5-0 thrashing of London rivals Chelsea to move three points clear at the top of the table on Tuesday.
Any remaining doubts about Arsenal’s maintaining title charge were answered emphatically as Leandro Trossard gave Mikel Arteta side an early lead before Ben White and Kai Haiivertz scored two goals each in a dazzling spell after the break to sweep aside helpless Chelsea.
It was a powerful statement by Arsenal who have recovered impressively from a home defeat by Aston Villa and bowing out of the Champions League and with four games remaining they are piling the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City.
Arsenal have 77 points from 34 games with Liverpool, who face Everton on Wednesday, on 74 from 33. Reigning champions Manchester City have 73 points but have two games in hand starting with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.
For ninth-placed Chelsea, it was their heaviest ever defeat by Arsenal and a hammer blow in their bid to creep into a European place just days after their narrow FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester City.